Mandatory Monday (Tanier): O-Line Rankings

[DFWJC]

This could be the best oline we've had since 2007.

Time will tell..

 

[Alexander]

This could be the best oline we've had since 2007.

Time will tell..

It can be even better just due to the fact they are mostly young and not nearly as battle worn as that line was.

 

[DFWJC]

It can be even better just due to the fact they are mostly young and not nearly as battle worn as that line was.

I almost went there too. lol
I think it should trump 2008 and 2009 anyway. If it tops 2007 and the core skill guys stay upright...look out!

 

[cowboy_ron]

If the line plays tight and the headcase gets his head together and Romo stays healthy........the Boys will be scoring points. I also love caviar and DeMarco Murray as a feature back.

If the "headcase" you're referring to is Dez give me more players like him......if a passion to win constitutes being a headcase I want an entire roster of those players....

 

[Nova]

I consider Free adequate. He is not the best run blocking RT and he is not the worst same with his pass blocking. He is an average tackle and there is nothing wrong with that but he is not stout at the point of attack but he does get into defenders way. I consider him a bigger weakeness than our guards even before drafting Martin.

For what it's worth, Free ranked as the 8th best in pass protection among RTs last year.

 

[Nova]

I don't even know if Dallas has the best oline in the NFC East, let alone in the NFL.
Philly's line is outstanding.

But if Freddy improves and Martin is what they hope he is, this line is a huge strength. It's been a several years since we could say that!

To be fair though, Philly is considered to have the best offensive line in the league by quite a few people.

 

[big dog cowboy]

As for the Cowboys bashers, bear with me … if Jason Garrett is a ninny and Tony Romo is a chokity-choke and Dez Bryant is a headcase and the running backs are all Lance Dunbar types that Jerry Jones fell in love with while eating caviar and barbecue in front of the 230-inch television on a Saturday afternoon, then how do the Cowboys average nearly 28 points per game? Somebody besides Jason Witten is doing something right. Five somebodies, to be precise.

Yep he went there.

 

[Dwight]

This could be the best oline we've had since 2007.

Time will tell..

Just my opinion - that 2007 oline was a little overrated.

They looked good because Romo.

 

[jobberone]

1. Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys bashers can scoff if they like, but the team has a tremendous line. It all starts with Tyron Smith, one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL right now. Smith allowed just three sacks last year and is the best run-blocking left tackle in the league. Right tackle Doug Free is a solid run blocker who rarely makes mistakes in pass protection and has not missed a start in four years.

Smith is outstanding and Free is good, but the prospects are what bring this line to the next level. Travis Frederick had a fine rookie campaign and will start at center for the rest of the decade. Rookie Zack Martin moves over from collegiate tackle to give the Cowboys a massive, athletic, nearly game-ready guard to fill the line's biggest hole from last year. Martin is already counterproductively clobbering Cowboys defenders in minicamp, but gains on the offensive line always come at the expense of the defense in Dallas for some reason (see Frederick's early selection at the expense of a much-needed defender in the 2013 draft). That's a problem for a later series of articles.

As for the Cowboys bashers, bear with me … if Jason Garrett is a ninny and Tony Romo is a chokity-choke and Dez Bryant is a headcase and the running backs are all Lance Dunbar types that Jerry Jones fell in love with while eating caviar and barbecue in front of the 230-inch television on a Saturday afternoon, then how do the Cowboys average nearly 28 points per game? Somebody besides Jason Witten is doing something right. Five somebodies, to be precise.

Read more...

Smith is not the best run blocking LT. Williams, Peters, Long and Dunlap are better. He's good but needs more work. He's in the top five pass blockers and one of the better LTs in the game.

Fred needs a lot of work on his pass blocking. Lots.

Martin is a rookie. I like the player but I'd like to see him play football against a first team defense first. I expect good things from him but still.

And yes the offense is potent although it needs some work, too.

 

[reddyuta]

I am holding my breath on the O-line ,we always think that one unit has outstanding talent but injuries always decimates that unit.

 

[theSHOW]

If the "headcase" you're referring to is Dez give me more players like him......if a passion to win constitutes being a headcase I want an entire roster of those players....

Remind me again why it is that you feel Dez has more passion than say the other offensive starters?

 

[burmafrd]

In this age of watered down teams, this line could be one of the best in the league. But the 1990's guys were in a league that had overall much better O lines. This O Line probably would not make top 15 in 1992.

 

[cowboy_ron]

Remind me again why it is that you feel Dez has more passion than say the other offensive starters?

Is this a real question?

 

[xwalker]

For what it's worth, Free ranked as the 8th best in pass protection among RTs last year.

They made changes to the entire OL scheme to hide Free's issues in 2013. It was a brilliant coaching job but it made the other OLinemen's job more difficult.

 

[Fletch]

It is Garrett's signature stamp on the team thus far.

He's the one who cut all the has-beens when he took over. Gurode, Colombo, etc. He's helped draft 1st round guys for 3 years now strictly for the O-line. So yeah, Garrett's stamp is on this roster.

 

[jrumann59]

For what it's worth, Free ranked as the 8th best in pass protection among RTs last year.

While I can respect that since he only gets minuses for getting beat he always looks a misstep away from giving it up. He is not overpowering blocker he blocks for a stalemate.

 

[percyhoward]

I really like the way this dude writes. And, no mention of PFF. Bonus points just for that.

 

[JBS]

He's the one who cut all the has-beens when he took over. Gurode, Colombo, etc. He's helped draft 1st round guys for 3 years now strictly for the O-line. So yeah, Garrett's stamp is on this roster.

Too bad its too late... Could have used this type of oline few years ago.... Lets see if he can build the rest of the roster back up

 

[AsthmaField]

I'm pretty sure the line is going to suck without a 3rd round walk in starter Trai Turner.

Galloway assured us all that getting our 8th strongside DE in Ealy and adding Turner at G is the only way the draft could keep the team from imploding. Adding a WDE at the expense of getting Turner is going to insure the OL is horrid.

 

[Cebrin]

If the intention is to wear opposing defenses out by the 3rd quarter with OL physicality, why bring in Scott Linehan who has OC'd the most one of the most prolific pass heavy offenses in NFL history with the Lions recently?

Well, if you had a 6'5" 240lb Megatron that runs a 4.3 and catches balls in triple coverage, you may too be a prolific pass heavy offense. Add that to the fact that they never had a consistent, decent running back. I'd say he uses his team to its strengths. Hope he does that here too.